Rail-splice.



No. 892,313. PATENTED'JUNE 30, 1908. L. P. SGHRAMM.

RAIL SPLICE.

. I Ewyontoc Mama, I Law's Z cfimmm' A k I acme? LOUIS P. SGHRAMM, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

RAIL-SPLICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. June 80, 1908.

Application filed July 26, 1907. Serial No. 385,684.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS P. SonRAMM, a citizen of the United States, residin at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Rail-Splices, of which the fol owing is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in rail splices, comprehending specifically a rail splice in which the cooperating pants are formed integral with the meeting ends of the rail, thereby insuring a firm connection and sup ort.

he main object of the present invention is the production of a rail splice in which the rail ends are integrally formed to rovide an interlockin connection adapted or assemblage by re atively endwise movement, each interlocking member including one-half the ball or tread of the rail, whereby a practically continuous tread is provided and the disadvanta es of a transverse break at the meeting ends of the rails are avoided.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a pers ective view showing two rail ends connecte by my improved splice, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the rail ends separated, Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the connecting rails.

Referring to the drawin s, it will be noted that the meeting ends of t e respective rails are, in carrying out the present invention, complementary in structure, and, therefore, a detail descri tion of one will suffice for both. In forming the interlocking member on the rail end the web of the rail is thickened on one side, as at 1, so that throughout the thickened portion the web of the rail is practically equal in thickness on one side to the thickness of the tread 2. In reducing the rail end to provide the splice member, the said end is cutaway longitudinally and centrally of the ball or tread 2, leaving a rojecting tread portion 3 equal to onealf of the normal tread. The cutaway ortion extends vertically through the we and flange, as shown, except that a series of longitudinall disposed ribs 4 are arranged in spaced re ation on the Web portion of the rail. These ribs extend in parallel relation from the rails proper beyond the cutaway portion, and are referably three in number, though any numl er desired may be used.

posing rail.

The relatively forward end of the splicing member is reduced in height by the elimination of the ball or tread portion of the rail, thereby providing a tongue 5, which is aproximately of a height equal to the distance Between the base flange and ball of the o The tongue 5, and the thic ened web portion of the rail are formed with bolt openings 6, which may be of the usual elongated form to provide for contractlon and expansion of the rail under extremes of temperature.

As hereinbefore stated it will be noted that the splice ends or members of the respective rails are duplicates in construction, except, of course, that the ribs 4 or one member are relatively offset from the ribs 4 of the other member, so that when said members are assembled, the ribs of one will fit between the ribs of the other.

In assembling the splice members to connect the rails, said members are joined by relatively lon itudinal movement, the ribs 4 of one fitting etween the ribs 4 of the other, and the tongues 5 of each member lymg between the tread portion and base flange beyond the other member. Bolts 7 secure the parts in connected relation, as shown m In connected relation it will be noted that the joint, through the ball portion of the rail, is arranged in two spaced positions, one-half of the ball portion extending forwardly from each juncture. By this means vertical separation of the rail ends is impossible, and hence disadvantages of such separation are avoided. The ribs 4, in addition to guiding the rails into exact alinement, form an inter locking means which tends to maintain perfeet ahnement of the rail ends under all conditions. Furthermore, should the bolt fastenin s of the rail ends become ineffective, the ri s and tongueswould tend to maintain the necessary almement of the rails, assuming the rails fastened beyond said ends by the usual spikes, and thereby prevent complete separation of the rails.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:

l. A splice for rail ends comprising interlocking members each including a thlckened web ortion and a tread portion centrally and l dngitudinally cut away throughout the length of the thickened web portion, said web portion being extended in advance of the tread terminal and reduced in width throughout its height to provide a tongue projecting beyond the tread portion, that portion. oi the thickened web coextensive with the length 01'' the reduced tread being reduced tlnoi'igl'iout its height and length and provided with a series oi" longitudinally dis )osed equally spliced ribs, the ribs o'l. one rai end being ahned with the spaces be tween the ribs 01'' the opposing rail end, whereby the reduced tread. portions and the ribs on the respective rail ends interlock in assembling the parts and the tongues overlap the rail web beyond the thickened portion.

2. A splice for rail ends comprising interlocking members each formed with an oil'set web aortion and. having the tread overlying the olfset web portion centrally and longitudi nally cut away, the web portion beneath the reduced tread being of less thickness throughout its length and height than the reduced pertion of the tread, whereby the lower portion of the tread projects beyond the offset portion of the tread in the 'lorrn oil a shoulder, said ollset portion being projected beyond the terminal of the reduced tread portion to provide a tongue, the ()lilSOt portion of the web below the tread being formed with. a series of' spaced ribs arranged. in parallel relation to the tread portion and coextensive in length tl'ierewitl'i, the free side edges of said ribs projectii'ig beyond the side edge of the tread, the ribs of one end being offset relative to the ribs of the remaining end. to interlit said. ribs in the assembling of the rail ends. 1n testii'l'iony whereof I EtlljlX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS P. SOIIRAMM. Witnesses ELLSWORTH M. BEARD, CORA L. STEW'ART. 

